Ventura Municipal Code Art. 1 General Provisions

This chapter is adopted pursuant to the municipal affairs provision of the City Charter for the purpose of regulating public events conducted in city parks and park facilities that are operated and/or maintained by the city’s parks, recreation, and community partnerships department. This chapter is intended to ensure that such events are safe, do not unreasonably interfere with the general public’s use of parks and park facilities, and do not damage public property beyond ordinary wear and tear. In addition, this chapter is intended to require any natural person or organization sponsoring or conducting an event to compensate the general public for any costs incurred in connection with operating and maintaining the parks and/or park facilities reasonably attributable to that event. (Ord. No. 2019-022, § 1, 12-9-19)

Unless the contrary is stated or clearly appears from the context, the following definitions will be given the construction of the words and phrases used in this chapter:

“Basic rate” means the fee established by city council resolution for using park property or park facilities. The basic rate will be based on a fair share of that part of the overall cost of operating and maintaining the city’s parks and park facilities reasonably attributable to a permittee’s use of city park facilities.

“Director” means the director of parks, recreation, and community partnerships or their designee.

“Event” means any of the following:

1. Any activity in a park that is planned for, or carried out in a manner to attract, more than 100 people to attend or participate in the activity;

2. Any activity in which the persons participating in or viewing the activity are charged a fee or solicited for donations;

3. Any activity which includes the sale of food, beverages, or merchandise, and/or the rental of equipment or other things; and

4. Any activity where the nature of the activity necessitates reservation of a park, or portion thereof, before the activity for the applicant’s exclusive use or where a permit applicant otherwise seeks to reserve a park, or portion thereof, before the activity for the applicant’s exclusive use.

“Event” does not mean any of the following:

1. Any activity conducted in a park or portion of such park that is sponsored or carried out by another public agency, a private organization, or an individual pursuant to a lease or other agreement between the city and such public agency, private organization, or individual;

2. Filming at a park where the person filming possesses a filming permit issued pursuant to this code; and

3. Special events that use a park where the person conducting or sponsoring the special event possesses a special event permit issued pursuant to this code.

“Free speech” means activity protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and/or Article 1, Section 2 of the California Constitution; provided, that such activity is a significant part of the event.

“In writing” means a telegram, email, facsimile, or any other written document.

“Park” means any city park or park facility operated and/or maintained by the parks, recreation, and community partnerships department including, without limitation, baseball fields and playgrounds, but will not include golf courses.

“Permittee” means a person or entity to which the city issues a permit pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. No. 2019-022, § 1, 12-9-19)

The city’s parks, recreation, and community partnerships director or their designee will receive applications, issue and revoke permits, and otherwise implement this chapter according to the procedures herein. (Ord. No. 2019-022, § 1, 12-9-19)

Except as otherwise provided, it is unlawful, subject to punishment in accordance with Chapter 1.50 or 1.150, or Section 2.370.056, for any person to sponsor or conduct an event in a park unless authorized by a permit issued by the director as provided by this chapter. (Ord. No. 2019-022, § 1, 12-9-19; Ord. No. 2020-027, § 1, 12-7-20)

A. Where the provisions of this chapter require that an applicant/permittee be served with notice, such notice will be deemed served when personally delivered to the applicant/permittee; when deposited in first class U.S. mail, addressed to the applicant’s/permittee’s last known address; or when sent via facsimile to the applicant’s/permittee’s last known facsimile number.

B. Unless otherwise provided, written notification to a permittee/applicant of a permit decision will state with particularity the basis for such decision. (Ord. No. 2019-022, § 1, 12-9-19)